Telephonic apparatus



(.No Model.) I W. J. DUDLEY.

TEL EPHONIG APPARATUS. No. 268,359. I by Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

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NITED STATES PATENT 01mins.

VVALTEB J. DUDLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TELEPHONIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming. part'of Letters Patent No. 268,359, dated November 28, 1882. Application filed June 7, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER J. DUDLEY, of the city of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Telephone-Signal Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention is embodied in a telephonesignal apparatus in which any desired one of a series of stations upon the same circuit may be signaled without ati'ecting the signals at the other stations, and has for its object to provide, in connect-ion with the signal-operating apparatus, a switch for the telephone controlled by mechanism actuated in common with that controlling the operation of the signal, and also controlled by the lever upon which the telephone is supported when not in use in such manner that when the telephone is removed from its book before the signal apparatus is set in operation it will be introduced in the circuit and retained there during the subsequent operation of the signaling apparatus; but if the telephone be hung up when the signaling apparatus is set in operation it can thereafter be placed in circuit only when the signal is also placed in operative position, thus maintaining secrecy from all the stations except the ones from which and to which a signal has been sent.

The signal-operating magnet and the telephone are herein shown as each placed under control of a circuit-closer operated by controlling mechanism arranged to move in unison in the apparatus of the different stations, it being herein shown as operated with astep-bystep movement by an actuating-magnet included in the main circuit. In order to prevent interference between the actuating-magnet and the signal-magnet, the said magnets or their armatures are polarized, so that their respective armatures will be effected by currents of opposite polarity.

The telephone-supporting lever, which is moved by the addition or removal of the weight of the telephone, is provided with a finger arranged to operate the circuit-closer for the signal, so as to remove the latter from circuit when. the telephone is removed from its hook. The circuit-closer,w hich controls the telephonecircuit, is itself controlled by the same mechcircuit by the said mechanism when at its starting-point, which is determined by astopping device employed to place the controlling mechanism of the different stations in unison, as is necessary for proper operation. The telephone-controlling circuit-closer is also connected with the telephone-supporting leverin such a manner that while the telephone re-' mains suspended on the said lever its circuitcloser will be under the control of the mechanism which controlsthe signal, and the telephone will consequently be removed from the circuit, except while the said mechanism is at its starting-point or at the point at which the signal for the said station is brought into operative condition. If, however, the telephone be removed from its lever, the latter will remove the telephone circuit-closer from the control of the controlling mechanism, or rather place it in such condition that the telephone will be retained in circuit during the entire movement of thecontrolling mechanism. By these means a subscriber who desires to communicate with another will, by first removing his own telephone, place it in circuit, so that it will not be removed therefrom by the subsequent movement of the signaling-controlling apparatus, which takes place for the purpose of calling another office on the same line, or, if the called olfice is on another line, will take place for the purpose of insuring secrecy on the line from which the call was received.

I am aware that a signaling apparatus has been previously employed in connection with a secrecy-switch for the telephone controlled by the same mechanism; but in such apparatus, so far as I am aware; the telephone-controlling switch was not also placed under the control of the telephone supporting lever, which constitutes one of the main features of my invention.

, The armature by which the unisoning or stopping of the controlling devices is effected is of opposite polarity to the one by which the controlling mechanism is actuated, and is arranged to close a short circuit for the signal and circuit-controlling apparatus embodying this invention. Fig.2is a side elevation thereof, viewed from the left-hand side of Fig. 1, one of the supports for the main rotating arbor being removed; Fig. 3, a detail showing the telephone-controlling switch and its controlling mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a detail showing the same parts as viewed from the under side, it being a section on line to, Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a detail showing the stopping device and connected parts as viewed from the right-hand side of Fig. 1.

The devices by which the circuits of the signal-magnet and telephone are controlled are mounted on an arbor, a, shown as provided with a ratchet-wheel, b, actuated with a stepby-step movement by a pawl, c, on an armature-lever, 0, pivoted at 2, and provided with an armature, 0 which is polarized, so as to be attracted by the influence of currents of one polarity, which, for convenience, are assumed to be positive, passing through the actuatingmagnet 01, which is included inthe main circuit. The said armature-lever is provided with a retracting-spring, 0 by which it is withdrawn from the magnet when the latter is demagnetized or magnetized by a current of opposite polarity to that just mentioned-viz., negative.

The signal operating magnet 6 (see Fig. 2) is shown in this instance as included in aioop of the main circuit, the said loop containing a circuit-closer, (shown in Fig. 2, as a spring,f,) which under certain circumstances makes a contact with the stop or anvil piecef to then close the circuit of the signal-magnet, so that the electric current passing over the main line, will be divided, a snfficient portion passing through the said bell-magnet e to operate its armature. The said bell is shown as a vibrator, and the magnet or its armature is polarized, so that the said armature will be attracted only by currents of the opposite polarity to those by which the actuating-armature c is attracted.

The condition of the circuit-closer f is determined by the signal-controlling device shown as a disk, g, mounted upon the arbor a, the periphery of which acting upon the end of the circuit-closer f, as shown in- Fig. 2, keeps it disconnected from the co-operating point f, except when a notch, S in the periphery of the said disk in its rotation arrives at and receives theend of the said circuit-closer], which is then permitted to make contact with the stop f, thus bringing the bell-magnet e in circuit. The notches 3 are set at different points in the different apparatus, so that only one hell circuit closer is operated at a time in a series of instruments actuated simultaneously in the same circuit, as is usual in individual signaling apparatus. The said circuit-closer f, with its controlling-disk g and the actuating mechanism for the said disk, constitute the individual signal-controlling mechanism, which, as far as its relations with the other elements of the present apparatus are concerned, might be replaced by other forms of individual signal-controlling mechanism, many of which are well known.

The telephone-supporting lever j is provided with an arm, 7", in proper position to engage the circuit-closerfin the movement of the said lever, which takes place when the telephone is removed therefrom, the said arm then disconnecting the parts ff and breaking the bellcircuit.

The telephone, which is placed in the main circuit, is controlled by a circuit-closer, h, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which, when pressed against its co-operatin g point or stop h, closes a short circuit, thus diverting the electric currents from the telephone. The said circuit-closer h is pivoted at 4, so that it can be moved laterally relative to the end of the point 71,-, as well as be bent toward it, or spring away from it by its own elasticity, and it is connected with a finger, 03, upon the usual telephone-supporting hook, j, in such m =nner that when the said telephone is removed from the hook and the leverj is permitted to rise, it will tend to move the circuit-closer from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, Fig. 4. When the telephone is upon its book, the end of the circuit closer or spring h is held by the tinger i upon'the surface of the telephone-controlling device, (shown as a disk, 70,) mounted upon the arbor a, the main portion of the pe riphery of the said disk being adapted to press the said spring it into contact with its stop it to thus short-circuit. the telephone. The said disk 7c is provided with a notch, 5, located .in such relation to the notch 25 of the disk g that it receives the end of the spring h at thesame time that the notch 3 receives the end of the spring f. 'VVhen the end of the spring h is received in the notch 5, the said spring is disconnected from the stop it, so that the currents are obliged to pass through the telephone. The disk It is provided with aseeond' notch, 6, which receives the end of the spring h and thus causes the telephone to be in circuit when the arbor a is in its normal position or at its starting-point, which is determined as hereinafter described. \Vhen in this position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it the telephone be moved from its hook the finger i will move the circuit-closer h into the position shown in dotted lines, Fig 4:, in which its end rests upon'a support, (shown as the periphery of a disk, k,) of such diameter that the said circuit-closer will remain disconnected from its contact-point and the telephone will thus be kept in circuit. A flange, k prevents the circuit-closer lh from being moved from the disk to the h, during the entire movement of the disk 7d,.

disk except when the apparatus is in its normal position, the said flange beingprovided with an opening, 7, in line with the notch 6, to then permit such movement of the circuitcloser h.

It will be understood that the disk k serves merely to support the spring h when removed fromthe telephone-controlling disk It, and it might be a stationary piece of frame-work, in stead of rotating with the arbor a, its function being to guide the end ofitthe circuit-closer back through the notch 7 onto the disk It when again brought to its normal position and the telephone hung up.

The difi'erent instruments in the same circuit have their arbors a, all stopped in unison by an armature-lever, m, pivoted at 8, and provided with an armature, m, attracted to release the arbor a by currents of opposite polarity to those by which the armature is actuated, the said stopping device being and operating substantially the same as in Letters Patent No.234,663, granted to me January 23, 1880. The said armature-leverm, when its armature m is repelltd from the polesof the magnet 01, as is the case when a current of proper polarity to actuate the armature c is passing, will rest against a stop, a, (see Fig. 2,) co-operating therewith to close a short circuit direct from the magnet d to the main line, leaving the station, thus short-circuiting the telephone and its circuit-closer It, so that in case either of the latter should be imperfeet the main circuit will still remain intact for the operation of the magnet 01. As soon as the current is reversed in the magnetdthe armature m will be attracted, and thus break the said short circuit, leaving the telephone under the control of the circuit-closer h, and the said armature will remain held by its own attraction in this position after the negative current has ceased until it is repelled by the positive currents employed to again actuate the armature 0 The main circuit, entering the station, is connected with binding-post 20, from which it is continued by wire 21 tothe magnet gi,the other electrode of which is connected by wire 22 with the stop h of the telephone-controlling circuit-closer. The saidcircuit-closer h is itself connected by wire 23 with the circuit-breaking key K, from which the main circuit is continued by wire 24 to binding-post 25, and thence to the next station. Wire 22 and the key K are connected by wires 26 and 27, respectively, with the terminals of the telephone, so that when the direct or short circuit between the said wire 22 and key K is broken at h It the said telephone is brought into circuit. Wire 28, branching from wire 21, includes thesignal-magnet 0, anti is connected with the stopf, the circutt-closerfbeing connected by wire 29 with wire 23 and the key It, so that when the parts ff are in contact the currents will divide between the mag nets d and e. The wire 22 is connected with the branch wire 30, passing to the metallic postmfl supporting the armature-lever m,which is thus brought into electrical connection with wire 22, and the stop n of the said armatureleveris connected by wire 31 with the wire 24, so that when the armature m is repelled, as when the armature c is in operation, a short circuit is closed from the magnet d to the line leading to the nextstation, thus increasing the certainty of the operation of the said magnet.

In operation, when a subscriber desires to communicate with another, he removes his telephone from its hook, thus bringing the circuit-closer it upon the disk k and removingit from control of the disk It, so that the said circuit-closer will remain open and the telephone in circuit regardless of any subsequent movement of the arbor a. The subscriber will then manipulate the key K, or otherwise produce the signal at the central office, and make known through the telephone what he wishes. The central-office operator will then, by sending a positive current interrupted the proper number of times, rotate the arbors a of the instruments in the circuit upon which the subscriber whom itis desired to call is located until the notches 3 and 6 of thedisksgand It are brought into position to receive the ends of the corresponding signal and telephone-controlling circuit-closersf and h at the station it is desired to call, and at no other. A reverse current will then be thrown upon the line, attracting the armature m and setting the signal-hell e which is in circuit in operation. Thesubscriberhearing his bell thus ringing will remove his telephone from its supporting-lever, the arm 3 of which will then act upon the spring f to disconnect it from the stopf, and thus break the circuit of the bell and stop its operation. The telephones at the other stations on the circuit will he shunted by the circuit-closer h, and the flange 70 will prevent the said circuit-closer from being moved upon the disk k, to thus bring the telephone into circuit, the finger t being made flexible to admit the movement of the lever j when the telephone is removed at the station called.

The arbor a will be provided with a pointer,

a, (see Fig. 1,) to co-operate with a dial, a as described in my former patent referred to.

The telephone-leverj may, if desired, operate a shunt from the telephone-coils when the latter is supported thereon in the usual manner.

The arbor (t and circuit-controlling devices thereon will preferabl y be so arranged that the first movement thereof lroin the common starting-point will bring none of the signals or. telephones in circuit, so that in case the subscriber that calls the central otiice is on a different circuit from the subscriber called, the instruments in the circuit of the said calling subscriber will be moved one space, thus efi'ectually cutting out all other telephones in thesaid circuit, and at the same time indicating to the other subscriber that the line is in use.

As herein shown,the wires 27 and 26, which 4 ecaaee are connected with the terminals of the telephone, are also respectively connected with the telephone-supporting lever j and the stud j upon which the said lever is depressed by the weight of the telephone when supported thereon, thus completing the short circuit between the wires 26 and 27, and cutting out the telephone.

I claim- 1. The combination of the following elements, namely: the signal, the movable controlling device for the said signal, whereby it is renderedinoperative except during a detinite portion of the movement of the controlling device, and the movable telephone-support co-operating with the said signal, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a circuit-closer, mechanism controlling the condition of the said circuit-closer in connection with others of a'series, a telephone-supporting device, and mechanism operated by the said device, whereby the said device when relieved of the weight of the telephone before the mechanism controllingthe said circuit-closeris set in motion, removes the said circuit-closer from control of the said mechanism which controls it in connection with others of a series.

3. In a telephone-signal apparatus, the combination of the telephone-supporting hook and its flexible finger, of the circuit-closer connected with the said flexible finger, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, substantially as here- 'inbefore set forth, of a circuit-closer, a telephone-supporting device operatively connected with the said circuit-closer, a movable device for controlling the condition of the said circuit-closer, and mechanism connected therewith, whereby, when the said movable device is in a certain'position, the circuit-closer may be removed from its control by the action of the telephonesupportingdevice; but when the said movable device is in any other position the circuit-closer is retained in its control.

5. In a telephone-signal apparatus, the telephone-supportin g lever and telephone-controlling circuit-closer, combined with the controlling disk and support for the latter, the said circuit-closer being operated by the controllingdisk to govern the circuit of the telephone, and being operated by the said supporting-lever to remove itfrom or restore it to the control of the said disk, substantially as described.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of asignaling or communieating instrumeut,an electro-magnet in circuit therewith, an armature actuated by currents of one polarity only when such instrument is not in use, a shunt or short circuit for said instrument and circuit-closer therein controlled by the said magnet, and another armature oppositely polarized to the first.

WALTER J. DUDLEY. Witnesses:

F. W. PORTER, (J. R. WRIGHT. 

